Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

Update on Aug. 16, 2017 — Adoptions have resumed but we can’t take surrenders. Please see this post for the latest information.

Yikes, we’re experiencing plumbing issues today, and unfortunately this means we’ve had to close off some parts of our facility to the public. Don’t worry – the animals are okay! But what does this mean for you?

No adoptions today. We’re sorry to report that adoptions are temporarily suspended. If there’s an animal you were interested in meeting, please feel free to learn more about the adoption process by visiting our website.

Pet licensing is still available. Our lobby is still open, so if you’re a Seattle resident and need to license your dog or cat, come on in. Alternatively, you can license your pet online.

Look for your lost pet. Is your pet lost? Although our kennels and animal rooms are closed to the public today, we know the urgency you feel when you’re looking for a lost pet. If you need to visit the shelter to determine if we have your lost pet, a staff member can still assist you.

We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We’ll update this post as we have more information, so please check back for updates!

The Seattle Animal Shelter is once again reminding pet owners to take proper precaution during the hot weather expected this week. With temperatures forecasted to reach the 90s, pet owners are encouraged to exercise good judgment and use common sense when it comes to protecting their pets from the heat.

Never leave your animal unattended in a vehicle, said Seattle Animal Shelter Acting Director Ann Graves. Even on a 70-degree day, cars left in the sun can turn into lethal ovens, reaching fatal temperatures of more than 100 degrees within just a few minutes. And with the movement of the sun, cars originally left in the shade can soon be in direct sunlight.

“Even dogs left locked in cars in the shade with the windows cracked on hot days are at risk of brain damage or death,” Graves said. “Our officers receive emergency calls every day about animals locked in cars. If the animal is in distress, officers will use all means possible to rescue the animal.”

The warm weather also creates hazards for cats. As many homes in the Northwest aren’t equipped with air conditioning due to the normally moderate climate, people leave their windows open during warm weather. The fresh air is essential to you and your pets, but be aware of the enticement and danger an open, screenless window can pose for cats.

“Make sure your window screens are secure, especially on second floors and above,” Graves said. “Open, screenless windows are an invitation for curious cats. They may be known for always landing on their feet, but those little paws are no match for the combination of hard ground and gravity when the fall begins six, or even two, stories up.”

Graves offered the following tips for protecting pets during hot weather:

·Never leave your animal tethered or kenneled in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide access to plenty of cool water.

·If you leave animals indoors, open the screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water and, if possible, leave them in a cool location like a basement.

·Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked vehicle.

·If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.

·Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Pavement can get especially hot, and obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition. If you are concerned, contact your veterinarian.

·For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

·For rabbits and other small mammals, be sure to keep them cool. Avoid direct sunlight, and consider adding ice cubes to their water or giving them a frozen water bottle to snuggle up to.

If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance, or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387).

We are excited to announce that Josie Hazen is Seattle Animal Shelter’s 2017 nominee for the FUTY Festival Volunteer Award of Excellence!

Josie is a volunteer extraordinaire. She joined our volunteer community in 2004 and since then has helped thousands of cats find their fur-ever homes and thousands of dogs have a blast at the annual Furry 5K! Josie is at the shelter every week serving as the lead of our Sundays 9-Lives volunteers, helps adopted cats succeed in their new homes via our Cat Adoption Follow-up Team, organizes the Furry 5K Shelter and also finds time to welcome and orient new volunteers to our program.

Josie always gives 200% to every effort. For example, although her 9 Lives shift requires only two hours a week, Josie usually works the entire afternoon (five to six hours), because Sunday is the shelter’s busiest day and she wants to ensure that our cats, the public, shelter staff and her fellow volunteers are all well-served. On the follow-up team, she was the first member to sign up for and complete the Cat Behavior and Retention Course, scoring 98 percent and instantly putting her new skills to work in counseling cat adopters. Josie has a “can do” attitude and promotes cooperation and teamwork.

Hosted by Mud Bay, the FUTY Festival is a celebration and thank you party hosted for animal welfare volunteers and staff of the Pacific Northwest. The top three FUTY Festival Volunteer Award of Excellence nominees will receive recognition during the celebration. Winners will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, and Mud Bay will make a $1,000 donation to their organization. Voting closes on Aug. 6.

Shelter overflowing with dogs, cats and critters

The Seattle Animal Shelter is bulging at the seams due to a sudden influx of stray, surrendered and case-related animals, which require additional care and attention from shelter staff and volunteers. To help the shelter make space for these incoming pets, adoption fees are waived this weekend on all adoptable pets, including cats, dogs and critters such as rabbits, guinea pigs and birds. This offer is made possible through a grant from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

With this special offer, from July 21-23, adopters pay only the cost of a pet license, if applicable. Regular adoption fees are available online at http://www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/adopt/adoption-fees. Seattle residents adopting an animal will be required to purchase a pet license, which ranges from $24-$70.

The discount applies to cats, dogs and critters in the shelter and in foster care. For animals in foster care, any application received during the weekend will receive the discounted price, even if the actual adoption happens later. The adoption package includes:

Initial vaccinations

Spay or neuter (for dogs, cats and rabbits)

Microchip with registration

Feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency testing (cats only)

Certificate for a free health exam at local veterinarians

$20 coupon for Mud Bay

30-day pet insurance policy from PetHealth

“The animals that we are receiving have a variety of medical and care needs that require our attention,” said Ann Graves, Seattle Animal Shelter acting director. “This timely grant from the foundation allows us to find loving families for our adoptable animals so that our staff can focus their efforts on rehabilitating the pets that we are receiving from investigations and as strays.”

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday for adoptions. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387) or visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The Furry 5K is so much more than just a fun run/walk.

Hero with his forever human, So.

The Furry 5K supports vet care for animals at the Seattle Animal Shelter that face severe health conditions or have been subject to neglect or abuse. Take Hero, for example. Our humane law enforcement officers picked up Hero, a thin but happy stray dog found near Beacon Hill, and during an examination our vet noticed he had a heart murmur. Hero was going to require multiple vet appointments moving forward, but rather than keep him in the shelter environment for the duration, the SAS foster program connected him with volunteer Christy Avery. With Christy’s help, Hero had a comfortable home to return to after his vet appointments – a home where he could relax and thrive. Hero has since found a permanent home with So, who had this to say about his best friend:

He’s absolutely fantastic – the best dog I’ve ever met. Hero’s the therapy dog at the office, with people from other floors coming to meet him (and he greets right back with a smile!). He’s even won over several folks who were apprehensive about pit bulls.

We checked in with Hero’s former foster mom and asked Christy about her experience fostering Hero and what the Furry 5K means to her.

Why did you want to foster Hero?
SAS wanted to follow up on his heart murmur and put Hero on the foster list so that a volunteer would be able to take him to vet appointments. He would have a comfortable place to stay while SAS awaited test results and decided on further treatment, if that were necessary. Our 14-year-old Chow Chow mix, Kobe, who had been our first foster dog from SAS and also a “foster failure” when we adopted him, had died, but we weren’t ready to get another dog of our own. So, fostering was a good fit for us at that time.

How was your time fostering Hero?
Hero was an exceptional dog. He was the kind of dog everybody wants, sweet, snuggly and friendly to all people and dogs. He was also what we call “bomb proof.” Nothing made him nervous or scared. Everything and everybody made him happy. So he was a very easy foster dog. It was a pleasure to take him to his vet appointments because he charmed the pants off every vet and vet tech he met.

Have you fostered from the SAS before?
Yes, five dogs. Our Chow Chow mix, Kobe, was our first foster. We fostered another very happy Pittie named Manny, and very sweet and neglected Chow Chow called Jazzy, who had been seized in a cruelty case. Then Hero, then a little puppy SAS received in a transfer through Georgia Peaches Puppy Rescue called Ueli. We have also sat for a number of foster dogs when their foster parents went out of town.

Master snuggler at work!

What was your favorite moment with Hero?
Sleeping in and snuggling with him. We both enjoy sleeping in, and he was a champion snuggler.

How can the Seattle community help dogs like Hero?
Walk or run the Furry 5K, or donate online to the Help the Animals Fund, which pays for vet care. Hero may not have been adopted so quickly if SAS hadn’t been able to pay for the echocardiogram that let us know that his heart murmur was very low grade and should not give him trouble.

What does the Furry 5K mean to you?
It’s about the animal-loving community in Seattle coming together to help our city’s orphaned animals. I volunteer at the event every year, and it’s always a blast! If you can’t walk or run the course or donate to the HTAF, consider volunteering.

The Furry 5K is coming up on Sunday, June 11, at Seward Park in Seattle. Visit www.furry5k.com to register or donate or for more information. Race-day registration begins at 10 a.m., and the run/walk begins at 11:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

Seattle Animal Shelter invites animal lovers to register for the June 11 run at Seward Park

Register now for the Seattle Animal Shelter’s 18th annual Furry 5K run/walk happening at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Seward Park. Each year, the fun run attracts thousands of two-legged runners accompanied by hundreds of their four-legged furry companions. All proceeds directly support the shelter’s Help the Animals Fund. To register or for more information, visit http://www.furry5k.com.

The Help the Animals Fund was created in 1977 to pay for lifesaving veterinary care for sick, injured and abused animals at the shelter. As the shelter’s veterinary needs grew, volunteers started the Furry 5K in 1999 to raise money for the fund and to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership. Last year, the fund covered nearly $250,000 in veterinary bills.

“The Furry 5K helped our shelter become a lifesaving organization. SAS is an open-admissions shelter and accepts any animal that is surrendered or found within Seattle city limits,” said Ann Graves, Seattle Animal Shelter’s acting director. “Thanks to the generous Furry 5K donors, we are able to also provide them with a range of veterinary services and ensure all adoptable animals are placed into loving homes.”

Shelter staff anticipates this year’s Furry 5K will draw more than 2,000 people and 1,000 canines. In-person registration begins at 10 a.m. The race will be followed by Pet-a-Palooza, featuring entertainment, music, contests, awards and an interactive vendor area. Admission to Pet-a-Palooza is free. The Furry 5K is one of the few races in the Puget Sound area that encourages participants to run or walk with their dogs.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387) or visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

It’s happening all around the city. Our feathered friends are busy raising their young, and you may very well encounter a baby bird out of the nest that may — or may not — need a helping hand. But how do you know if you should help?

Check out this handy flowchart to help you determine if you should help that baby bird or leave it be. And remember — if you’re in Seattle and you see an animal in distress, call the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387). Visit us online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org for more information.

SAS says protect your pets, especially on 70-degree, sunny days

Even if you park your car in the shade, the sun’s movement can quickly put your car in your direct sunlight.

Spring weather has finally appeared for Seattle, which means open windows and more time outdoors. As people start to enjoy time outside with their pets, the Seattle Animal Shelter is reminding pet owners that, even on 70-degree days, it is not safe to leave their furry loved ones in vehicles.

Even if the ambient temperature is cool, studies have shown it’s a sunny day that can cause a car’s interior temperature to rise by an average of 40 degrees within an hour, said Ann Graves, Seattle Animal Shelter acting director.

“When the day starts out overcast and cool, pet owners sometimes have a false sense of safety,” Graves said. “But an overcast day can turn to a sunny day in the blink of an eye, and cars will get hot, very fast – and cracking the windows doesn’t help. It’s not worth the risk to leave your pet in a vehicle, on overcast days and especially sunny ones.”

A 2015 Washington state law makes it a violation just to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle or enclosed space, if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat or cold, lack of ventilation or lack of water. Penalties under this law are in addition to potential animal cruelty charges. Graves reminded the public that the shelter’s humane law enforcement officers responding to calls about animals left in hot cars will utilize all means necessary to access vehicles to remove the animals if they believe the animals are in distress.

The Seattle Animal Shelter offers the following tips for protecting pets on sunny days and during hot weather:

If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.

Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked vehicle. Animals do not perspire like humans; they cool themselves by panting. Vinyl, leather and even cloth seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws.

Never leave your animal tethered or kenneled in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide access to cool water.

If you leave animals indoors, open screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water and, if possible, leave them in a cool location.

Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.

For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance, or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387). Information is also available online at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Dr. Nick Urbanek, director of shelter medicine, cares for SAS’ animals with resources from the Help the Animals Fund.

Now a regular fixture in Seattle Animal Shelter’s designated clinic room, Dr. Nick Urbanek doesn’t get much downtime. As the new director of shelter medicine, Urbanek provides veterinary evaluation and treatment for the many animals – dogs, cats and critters – that come under the shelter’s care.

“There are a thousand distractions here,” said Urbanek. “It’s never quiet.”

The shelter made large strides by hiring him as an in-house veterinarian in February 2017, but Urbanek said SAS still needs more veterinarian resources.

To raise funds for Urbanek’s veterinary efforts and the shelter’s Help the Animals Fund, SAS will host its annual Furry 5K on Sunday, June 11 at Seward Park. According to Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement Ania Beszterda-Alyson, these funds cover examination bills, spay/neuter surgeries and rehabilitating animal cruelty and neglect victims.

“The event was founded by shelter volunteers who, through their daily interactions with homeless and abandoned animals, saw that private donations were greatly needed for our municipal shelter to become a lifesaving organization,” said Beszterda-Alyson. “Injured, abused and neglected animals need veterinary care, medications and sometimes surgeries to become adoptable and find loving homes. Furry 5K donations save lives of the most vulnerable animals in our community.”

SAS is an open-admissions shelter and accepts any animal that is surrendered or found within Seattle city limits. (Animals from outside Seattle are accepted on a space-available basis.) According to Beszterda-Alyson, these animals are usually the ones turned away by private animal welfare organizations.

“My goal and hope is to provide quality veterinary care (medical, surgical and behavioral) for all animals in our care,” said Urbanek. “It’s a seemingly simple goal but requires a lot of coordination starting from the moment an animal comes through the shelter’s door.”

Before Urbanek came on board, SAS would send animals with medical needs to local veterinary clinics. But the excitement of being transported from the shelter to medical facilities often created anxiety for the pets. And while the shelter can now handle medical conditions on-site or in foster care, the diagnostics and treatments can be very costly, Urbanek said.

Last year, the charitable donations from the Furry 5k helped 3,715 animals at SAS, according to Beszterda-Alyson. This year, the shelter hopes to raise $120,000 for veterinary care and rehabilitation of shelter dogs, cats and critters.

“Our live save rate says we are doing a fantastic job at making positive outcomes happen,” said Urbanek.

It started about three years ago with one pair of guinea pigs – a male and female. In time, it became an unimaginable 250 guinea pigs, all in one couple’s Eastern Oregon home. The couple surrendered all the animals and we’ve been working with the Blue Mountain Humane Society in Walla Walla to help transfer many of the guinea pigs to find homes in Western Washington.

The Seattle Animal Shelter on Tuesday served as a transport hub by accepting nearly 100 guinea pigs, which were then transferred to other animal welfare organizations in the area. Local NBC-affiliate KING 5 was on the scene for the guinea pigs’ arrival, and Animal Care Manager Tracy Bahrakis was able to provide helpful information:

Guinea pigs can quickly reproduce.

Spaying and neutering is for more than just cats and dogs – yes, guinea pigs can be neutered.

When spaying and neutering is not an option, guinea pigs should be separated by gender.

If you find yourself with a growing critter (or any other animal) population, reach out to your local animal shelter for help before becoming overwhelmed.

When considering adding a critter to your family, opt to adopt from your local animal shelter.

We’re happy to have been able to partner with Blue Mountain Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations to help these animals in need.